A box camera is a wonderful project to do with students. It teaches them the basics of photography, while also helping them make a tool with which than can capture images and express themselves artistically. However, the project is not limited to the classroom. A box camera produces very unique images and a camera made from different sized and shaped boxes can produce some stunning visual effects..MaterialsThe main material is the box. The exposure time will vary based on the box. You will need to spend some time experimenting with your box camera to get the exposure time exactly right. For this article, we will use a 7-inch tall cylindrical oatmeal box. You will also need an aluminum soda can, some scissors, flat (non-glossy) black spray paint, contact paper, a No.16 bead threading needle, a clothespin, some epoxy glue, some regular craft glue, something to spread the epoxy with, black electrical tape, some light cardboard cut from a box of cereal or something like it, a ruler, an Exacto knife, and a piece of extremely fine sandpaper. ConstructionFirst draw a small box about the size of a dime exactly in the middle of the oatmeal box. Cut the small box out with the Exacto knife. This will be your camera's window. Cut the contact paper so that it fits the lid exactly. Spray paint the inside of the box black as well as the inside and outside of the lid. Cut the ends off of the soda can and and then cut a small 2"x3" piece of aluminum from the can. Try to cut the piece with rounded corners.

Now glue the needle inside the clothespin so that it sticks out from the grip of the clothespin less than 1/4 of an inch. This is the tool you will use to make the pinhole. Carefully press the tip of the needle through the exact center of the plate cut from the aluminum can. Sand the hole with the sandpaper and drill once again. Repeat this step about four times and then wash and dry the piece. Use electrical tape and epoxy to stick the plate inside the box so that the pinhole is directly in the middle of the hole previously cut in the box.

Cut two long strips from light cardboard that are about 7 inches by 1 inch thick. Cut an additional 1 1/2 by 2 inch piece from the cardboard. Cut another strip that is about 3/4 inch by 5 inches long. Fold this piece so that it makes a handle and glue it to the 1 1/2 by 2 inch piece. Now use the 7 inch strips to create rails above and below the hole in the box by taping them over the top and bottom edges of the 1 1/2 by 2 inch piece. This way the piece covering the hole can be easily slid over and off the hole. Once this is done your CCTV camera is ready to use.